After making several phone calls today, it’s my understanding that Brett Favre did indeed speak with Matt Millen, then President / GM of the Detroit Lions. It was more of a “conversation in passing” as it was explained to me. It was NOT a deviant plot by Favre to attempt to sabotage the Green Bay Packers. The conversation was “brief”. There was a mention of the Green Bay Packers but, according to sources, it wasn’t a lengthy dissertation or the Packers schemes, tendencies nor playcalling. The conversation surrounded “catching up” and Brett’s comfort level in New York and how enjoyed playing for the Jets.
While the Detroit Lions remain silent with their “no comment” refrain, sources tell me that this was the only phone call that they had knowledge of. Other calls, to other teams was out of their “scope of knowledge”.
Jay Glazer, of FOX Sports, reported, “Favre earlier this year phoned the Detroit Lions prior to their battle versus Favre's old team, the Green Bay Packers, and gave them a rundown of the nuances of what Green Bay does on offense. According to the sources, Favre actually spent over an hour on the phone with Lions coaches, who were connected with Favre by then-team president Matt Millen.” Glazer’s article goes on to say, “Other teams the Packers have played had also heard about the Favre coaching clinic with Detroit. In addition, there have been rumors that Favre has spoken to other teams giving them information, but most of those teams insist they have not heard from the famed gunslinger.
However, another team says it has had casual talks in the past with Favre and talked about some of what Green Bay does, but it was nowhere near the details he let loose to the Lions.”
My sources have no knowledge of any other phone calls that Favre had either made or received to any additional teams. The name of the team, referred to in Glazer’s article, that confirms they did indeed speak with Favre regarding the Green Bay Packers has yet to be named.